Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Book 92: Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa by R. A. Scotti (Audiobook)


“Ummmm… the Mona Lisa was STOLEN?” Yes, that was my first reaction.

Yes, the Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911. She was removed, quite simply, by an Italian national who worked at the Louvre. This book provides a look into the crime, the investigation, and the eventual recovery of the most famous work of art in the world.

Up until that point, the Mona Lisa was, of course, unique, but she was marginalized by people who thought she’d always be around. Then there came the theft. The thief simply removed the glass case during the changing of the guard, took Mona Lisa off the wall, and then took off with her. Then, she sat in a dingy apartment for nearly two years, until the thief turned himself in.

That’s the short version.

This audio book provided insight into the blundered police investigation, the desperation for Mona Lisa's return that seemed to grip the world, and her final, triumphant return to her home at the Louvre in Paris. It was a complex story, worth listening to, and would have probably been very interesting had I read it.

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